Characteristics of Changchengian rifts in southern margin of North China Craton and its hydrocarbon geological conditions

Abstract

The Meso-Neoproterozoic strata are wildly distributed in North China Craton (NCC), of which Changchengian strata are most widely developed. Taking Changchengian strata in south margin of NCC as the study object, and combined with comprehensive analysis of isotopic chronology and petrology, it can be concluded that the Xiong'er rift is a plume rift which responds to breakup of Columbia supercontinent. Seismic data shows that Changchengian rifts are developed in the Qinshui Basin and the southern part of Ordos Basin covered by Phanerozoic strata, respectively are large-scale graben rifts and half-graben rifts. Aero magnetic data indicates that a NE-trending rift is developed in the west of the Xiong'er rift, and the Qinshui Basin rift is the extension of the north branch of the Xiong'er rift. The filling process of Changchengian rifts can be divided into four stages: the early rifting stage developing thick andesitic volcanic rocks, the late rifting stage developing large suite of coarse clastic sedimentary rocks, the depression stage developing fine clastic rocks, and the epeiric sea stage developing carbonate rocks. The dark argillaceous rocks are developed in Cuizhuang Formation and Chenjiajian Formation during the depression stage, and the black shale in Cuizhuang Formation is the effective source rocks. The bitume is filled in fractures of dolomite in Luoyukou Formation, as well as dissolution pores and large caves in Longjiayuan Formation. The argillaceous sandstone and muddy limestone of Lower Cambrian is the effective cap rocks, which can form an potential accumulation assemblage of Changchengian strata with underlying source rocks of Cuizhuang Formation and reservoirs of Luoyu Group, and this assemblage may be still effective at present. Keywords: Changchengian, Xiong'er rift, Ordos Basin, Qinshui Basin, Filling sequence, Hydrocarbon geological conditions, Accumulation assemblage